THE THEBAN SAGA 391he is, and at peace with himself, leads him and the young women toward the
place where his life will end. He blesses Theseus and Athens, asking only that
Theseus never reveal the place of his disappearance.
What happened next is related in the speech of the messenger who was an
eyewitness. We give the passage in full here, since it clearly tells us how Sopho-
cles viewed the relationship of Oedipus the man to Oedipus the hero. The poet
carefully describes the place, for a hero is associated with a particular locality.
He connects Oedipus' passing with the powers beneath the earth (Zeus is called
by his title Chthonius, that is, "Zeus of the Earth"); yet Theseus rightly worships
the powers of both earth and heaven after the miracle, for the hero is part of the
array of Greek divinities, those of heaven as well as the chthonic powers. And
Oedipus' passing is miraculous and without grief, in this symbolizing his be-
nign influence upon the place where he passed from mortal sight and his power
as a hero to perform miracles for those who worship him. Here then is Sopho-
cles' description (Oedipus at Colonus 1587-1665):f
You know how he left this place without any of his friends to guide him, himself
the leader of us all. When he came to the edge of the ravine, which is rooted in the
earth by the brazen stairs, he stood in one of the paths which meet there—the place
is by the hollow basin where the pact of Theseus and Pirithous was forever made.
Around him were the rock of Thoricus, the hollow wild pear tree, and the stone
tomb. Here he sat and loosened his dust-stained garments. Then he called his
daughters and bade them bring him water from the running stream to wash with
and make libations. So they went to the hill of Demeter, bringer of green freshness,
which overlooks the place, and soon returned bringing what their father had asked
for. Thus they washed and clothed him as custom demands. When he was satis-
fied with all that they were doing and none of his commands had gone unfulfilled,
then Zeus of the Earth thundered, and the girls shuddered as they heard. They
clasped their father's knees and wept; continuously they beat their breasts and
wailed. But he immediately answered their unhappy cry, clasped his arms around
them, and said: "My children, today your father ceases to be. All that is mine has
come to an end; no more need you labor to support me. Hard was that task, I know,
my daughters; yet one word alone relieves all that toil—for of Love you never will
have more from any man than me. And now you will pass your lives bereft of me."
In this way they all sobbed and wept, embracing each other. When they
came to an end of weeping and were silent, a sudden voice called him and all
were afraid and their hair stood on end. It was God who called him repeatedly.
"Oedipus, Oedipus," he called, "why wait we to go? Too long have you de-
layed." Then Oedipus, knowing that God was calling him, called King Theseus
to him, and when he drew near said: "Dear friend, give your hand to my chil-
dren as a solemn pledge, and you, my children, give yours to him. And do you,
Theseus, swear never knowingly to betray these girls and always to act for their
good." And Theseus, without complaint, swore on his oath that he would do as
his friend asked, for he was a man of generous nature.
When this was done, Oedipus straightway felt his children with unseeing
hands and said: "My daughters, you must resolutely leave this place; you may